Essential Oils Flash Point

 

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Essential Oils – We use them, we love them, and if you are like me, can hardly live without them. They are the components in our perfumes, bathing soaps, and shampoos that give them fragrance. Essential oils are a part of our daily lives; if you take a deep breath right now, you may be inhaling one. Using them topically in a body product is only one of many methods of use. Many people ingest them in water and vegetable capsules as a supplement. Others add a drop or two into a burning candle. In light of this recent trend, reports have been gathered concerning the dangers of unsupervised or careless usage of these oils. If you are a lover of essential oils, here is what you need to know about them and understand an essential oils flash point.

Essential Oils are Volatile

When a substance is classified as volatile, it means it is flammable, dangerous and very unstable. Flammable substances are determined by their flash point value (the lowest temperature at which a substance can ignite when there is an ignition source in close proximity with it). Most volatile substances that are also flammable have a flashpoint of more than 60.5 degrees Celsius (140.9 Fahrenheit).

If you ever wondered whether all essential oils are flammable, the answer is yes! However, they have different flash points and are classified according to their varying degrees of flammability. Tea tree, lavender, and citrus oils all have a flashpoint of about 50 – 60 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit and 140 degrees Fahrenheit) and hence are flammable.

What Is Flash Point?

All essential and fragrance oils and aroma chemicals are volatile and will evaporate, some more than others (due to their low flash point).  Most are flammable, but the temperature at which they ignite differs from oil to oil.

All flammable liquids have a vapor pressure. Therefore, as the temperature of the oil increases, the vapor pressure increases, increasing the volume of evaporated liquid in the air.  Flash point is the minimum temperature in which there is sufficient evaporated oil in the air that can ignite.

The following information has been collected from one of our essential oils’ supplier and is for reference only. You will want to check your your supplier or refer to the Safety Datasheet for more information as essential oils are natural compounds and their flash point may vary slightly from batch to batch. Keep in mind, that an essential oil with a lower flash point may be blended with another essential oil that has a higher flash point, which could make it more tolerable to heat.

Are Diffused Essential Oils Flammable?

Should anyone worry about essential oils catching fire when diffused? Suppose you are re-creating the night of your first dinner date with the love of your life, is it a good idea to drop a few drops of lavender on a burning candle? Robert Tisserand, a leading expert in the field of essential oil study had this to say:

“Where there have been problems is with burner/vaporizers that use a naked flame candle – these have been known to “spontaneously” catch fire, and they are a fire hazard. When a naked flame comes into direct contact with concentrated essential oils and a very hot burner, sometimes with oily residues, this can be a risk. It is much better to use ones that operate without a naked flame. As for a spark from electrical equipment, this has never been known to ignite essential oil, and I can’t imagine a scenario where it would be a problem.”

 

 Essential Oils Used On Wool Balls In The Dryer

Modern dryers have at least three general cycles: low heat for delicates, medium heat for permanent press and high heat for regular clothes. The temperature range is 125 to 135 F across these cycles. However, essential oils are flammable and could pose a fire risk when added to dryer balls or dryer sheets, according to Aroma Web.  I have personally used lavender on my wool ball in the dryer without any issues, but it is something worth considering. Is it worth the risk of a house fire?

Tips on How to Avoid Essential Oil Fires 

• Although not all vaporized essential oils can ignite and catch fire, it is advisable not to use oils close to open fires such as a gas cooker stove.
• Never store essential oils close to open fires or the gas stove.
• Avoid heating essential oils over a naked flame candle to perfume a room. First, the heat changes the chemical composition of the oils, and there is always the possibility of the vapors igniting and catching fire. Instead, use a mist diffuser which is safer, convenient and simply disperses the scent particles into the air using water.

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